The Prime Minister cut the steel chain on the door at a recent opening ceremony

Hobbiton manager Russell Alexander told Australia’s Noosa News that his father was approached by Peter Jackson more than a decade ago to use their farm to film the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Since then, 300,000 people have streamed to the site to visit the iconic earth-covered hobbit houses.

Built low to the ground but still high enough for humans to stand comfortably, the thatched pub is comfortably nestled into the rolling green hills. The earthy interior features stone flooring, exposed beams, and an assortment of timber furnishings. Armed with an 80-person crew, WingNut Films’ art director worked with Green Dragon’s project manager Brian Massey to realize this charming new hobbit pub, which has been open to the public since 1 December, 2012.